Improvement in machines for cutting welts for boots and shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.V

SETI-I D. TRIPP, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT lN MACHINES FOR CUTTING WELTS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,172, dated January 14, 1862.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SETH D. TRIPP, of Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,have invented anewanduseful Machinefor CuttingVVeltsforBootsand Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same', reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the frame of the same, taken in the line a: w, Fig. l, the work-y ing parts not being bisected. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. 1; Figs. 4,5', 6, and 7,*detacl1ed views of the cutter pertaining to the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a machine for cutting welts for boots and shoes which will automatically adjust its cutter so that the leather strips, which. are of rectangular or approximate form, will be cut precisely through the center and in an oblique direction, the cutter being so moved or operated as t-o conform to the different thicknesses of the leather strips to be cut and the varying thickness of each individual strip, so that the two pieces which are formed of each strip will correspond precisely in thickness whateverthe thickness of the strip may be.

The invention consists in using, in connection with a pair of feed-rollers, a cutter constructed in a novel manner and connected with the shaft or axis of one of the feed-rollers, which is a yielding one, in such a way as to be moved or adjusted relatively with the leather strips to be cut and effect the desired end.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents what may be termed the frame of the machine, which is composed of two semicircular plates a a, connected by bars b b c. The upper cross-bar c is tubular, and

within it there is tted or placed a shaft B, having on one end of it a roller C, the periphery of which may be corrugated. The roller C is at the outer side of the frame A, and directly underneath the roller C there is a similar roller D, the shaft E of which is fitted in a horizontal tube F, which is allowed to Work freely between the two plates al a of the frame A. The tube F is connected by a bar d with a shaft G, the journals or ends of which'are vfitted and allowed to turn or work freely in the plates o. a of the frame A. The shaft E of the roller D passes through slots e e in the plates o, a, said slots admitting of a certain degree of play of the shaft E from the shaft G as a center. The tube F has a spring H bearing against its under side, said spring having a tendency to keep the shaft E of the roller D elevated or forced upward to the eX- tent of its movement in the frame A. The roller D, like C, may have its periphery corrugated.

The shafts B E of the rollers C D are connected at one end by gears I I, as shown in Fig. 2, and to the side of the frame A at which the rollers C D are placed there is secured a horizontal tube J, in which a cylindrical rod K is fitted and allowed to turn or Work freely. This rod K has a cutter L at its front end, lsaid cutter being in line with the bit-e of the rollers C D.

The cutter L may be described as being of fiat or chisel form. Its cutting-edge, however, is peculiar, being formed of basils ff', one of which f is at the upper and the other f at the Linder side of the cutter, the center f of the edge having a basil at both sides. (See more particularly Fig. 7.) The object in forming the cutter in this way will be presently explained. The side g of the cutter L which adjoins the frame A is fitted in a groove h in a head t' of a pin j, said pin being in a plate k, which is connected to the shaft E of the roller D and passes through a slot ix in frame A, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The cutter L has an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, and 7, and its edge forms a hypotenuse with the leather strip M to be cut, which is of rectangular form. (See Fig. 6.)

The upper shaftB is rotated by any convenient power in the direction indicated by the arrows upon them, and the strip M is drawn between the rollers and forced against the cutter L, which divides it into two equal parts or pieces by an oblique cut, each part or piece being a right-angled triangle in its transverse section-the proper form of a welt-ras shown in Fig. 6. If the strip M varies in thickness, the lower roller D rises and falls, so as to keep in contact with it, and this movement of the roller adjusts the cutter L, its inner side being drawn down as the roller is depressed by an increased thickness in the strip and elevated as the roller ascends when the thickness of the strip diminishes. Thus it will be seen that the cutter is always kept in a central position with the strip however much one strip may vary from another or each strip individually vary in thickness.

In consequence of having; the edge of the cutter formed as shown, it has a tendency to keep in a proper position with the leather strip M, for the upper basiled part fof the cutter has a tendency to work or cut downward, while the lower basiled part f has a tendency to work or cut upward, the central part f having a tendency to remain stationary or cut at the center of the leather strip. This tendency of the knife serves to prevent or check any casual or irregular movement of the same and insures the strip M being cut centrally in a proper manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The employment or use, in connection with the feed-rollers C D, of a cutter L, arranged and connected with the yielding roller D in such a manner as to be turned or adjusted automatically by the yielding movement of said roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Forming the cutting-edge of the cutter L by means of the basils f f f, which are respectively above, below, and at both sides of the cutter, as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. Having the shaft E of the lower roller D iitted in a tube F, which is connected by a bar d with a rock-shaft G and acted upon by a spring H, when said parts are used in connection with the cutter L, connected with the shaft G, and all arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

SE'lI'I D. TRIPP. 1Witnesses:

J. W. OsGooD, JOHN RICHARDSON. 

